Collapsible dress form



Feb. 17, 1942, E. WEINSTEIN COLLAPSIBLE DRESS FORM Filed Nov. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 17,1942. E. WEINSTEIN COLLAPSIBLE DRESS FORM 1 4O 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25,

m ya R f m w m m d E ATTORNEY .un mum Patented F eb. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ooLLAPsrBLE DRESS FORM Edward Weinstein, Bronx, N. Y. Application November 25, 1940, Serial No. 367,016 9 Claims. (01. 223-68) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a collapsible dress form.

The invention proposes the construction of a dress form which is characterized bya form body having separate shoulder and side portions hingedly mounted at their bottom ends to the adjacent portions of the form body. The invention proposes a novel construction for holding these shoulder" and side portions in retracted positions. Moreover, an arrangement is contemplated for holding these portions in extended positions. I

More specifically, keeper members are stationarily mounted within said form body between said shoulder and side portions and are cooperative with bolts mounted on the said shoulder and side portions for latching these latter parts inwardly when desired. Resilient'means urge the shoulder and side portions outwardly. Means is provided for freeing said bolts from the keepers when desired so that the sh'oulder and side portions move out. i l

With the construction of a dress form as cursorily described above it is possible to retract the shoulder and side portions while a dress is placed on the form; Then the shoulder and side portions may be extended so as to properly display the dress.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a novel bumper arrangement for resiliently arresting the outward motion of the shoulder and side portions when they are freed.

v Still further-the invention contemplates several ways for resiliently urging the shoulder and side portions into outward positions.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref-. erence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible form constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the form shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical secl tional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. -2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating a modified construction.

i Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9'is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a collapsible form embodying another form of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line |0--|0 of Fig. 9.

The collapsible form, in accordance with this invention, includes a form body I0 having separate shoulders and sid portions ll supported at their bottom ends with hinges I2 to the adjacent portions of the form body. The form body it] is supported on the usual pedestal which includes a vertical post l3 extending through the form body and connected with the closed top end thereof. The post I3 is mounted on a foot construction l4 supported on casters I5. The bottom portion of the form body II] is provided with the usual wire skirt l6. The form body It con-' sists of an interior form proper IE and a cloth covering lo Keeper members I! are stationarily mounted within the form body l0 between the shoulder and side portions thereof. These keeper mem bers l'l comprise lug portions formed on a bracket l8 which is supported beneath a bridge I9 mcuntedbetween the front and rear portions of the form body. The bridge l9 isformed with an opening through which the post l3 passes. Bolts 2| ar mounted on the shoulder and side portions H and are cooperative with the keeper I members l1 for latching the shoulder and side portions inwardly. More specifically, each bolt 2| is supported at one of its ends by a pintle 22 connected with a bracket 23 mounted on a plate '24 which is mounted on the shoulder and side portion l l.

Each bolt 2| extends through a slot 25 formed in one of the keeper members Each bolt 2| has a cutout 26 on its bottom edge which is cooperative with the bottom edge portion of the slot 25 in the keeper member I! for latching the bolt in an inward position. A spring 2'! is connected with each bolt 2| and with its associated plate 24 and functions to normally pivot the bolt downwards so that the cutout 26 automati-' resilient means comprises a leaf spring 28 which is mounted between the plates 24 acting to urge the plates apart. Auxiliary springs 29 are also mounted on the sides of the form body Ill and directly engage against the shoulder and side portions l for urging them outwards. may also be provided in lieu of the springs described for accomplishing the resiilent urging of the shoulder and side portions as stated.

Means is provided for freeing the bolts 2| from the keeper members II. This means includes a rod 38 slidably extending through an opening formed in the bridge I9 and attached at its bottom end to the bracket l8 for supporting the bracket I8. This rod is provided with a fixedly mounted flange 3|. Several springs 32' are connected with this flange and are connected with the top portion of the form H for urging the rod 39 upwards- 30 projects from the top of the form. This end is provided with a knob 32 to facilitate its depression. The parts are so arranged that when the knob 32 is pressed downwards the rod 33 will" move downwards, lowering the bracket l8 until the bolts 2| rest upon the top of the bridge l9 and the keeper members reach further downward extended positions in which the bottomportions of the openings 25 disengage from the cutouts 26. The springs 28 and 29 instantly urge the shoulder and side portions outwards.

Bumpers are provided for resiliently arresting the outward motion of the shoulder and side portions These bumpers include leaf springs 33 mounted on the bolts 2| and adapted to strike stationary bars 34 fixedly mounted on the form I0. Each leaf spring 33 is adjustably supported by its bolt 2|. More particularly, each leaf spring 33 has an enlarged head portion 35 through which several clamp screws 35 pass. These clamp screws also pass through slots 31 formed in the bolts 2|, The arrangement is such that the clamp screws 36 maybe loosened and then the springs 33 shifted as desired along the lengths of the bolts 2i. This adjustment controls the relative positions of the springs 33 and the bars 34, when the bolts 2| are in their innermost positions, and controls theresiliency of the bumpers when the shoulder and side portions I! are stopped in their outermost positions.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the resilient means for urging the shoulder and side portions outwardly. In accordancewith this form of the invention there is a pair of helical springs 43 attached at their outer ends on the plates 24. The springs 40 are mounted at their inner ends on a block 4| which is slidably supported on the rod 33.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form andlike parts are.

identified by like reference numerals.

, In Figs. 9 and 10 still another modified form of the invention is disclosed which distinguishes from the prior forms, in the construction of the means for freeing the bolts. In this form of the invention the bolts 2| are arranged to pivot in horizontal planes as distinguished from the vertical planes in which the bolts 2| pivoted. More specifically, each bolt 2| is pivotally supported by a pintle 22 on a bracket 23' which is mounted on the plate 24 secured on each shoulder and side portions I of the form. A spring 2'!v is connected between each bolt 2| and the plate 24 for .urging the bolt 2| horizontally in one di- Other means The upper end of the rod.

rection. More specifically, the bolts 2| are urged against a stationary channel keeper member 42 which is mounted stationarily within the form body I0. I

Each bolt 2| has a cutout portion 23' which is cooperative with one of the flanges of the channel keeper 42 for holding the bolt in a retracted position. Each bolt 2| is provided with a stud 43 which engages in a track 44 formed on a plate 45 which is supported on a bridge 46 mounted across the front and rear walls of the form body. Each track 44 has a wide straight side section 44 which permits the bolt 2| to pivot laterally while the peg 43 is in this wide section. The wide section 44 continues into a comparatively narrow section 44 which is provided with a spring urged one way pawl 45 arranged to permit the peg 43 to pass outwards but restraining inward motion. From this point the track 44 continues into a returning section 44 which connects with the front of the wide section 44*.

The operation of this form of the invention may be understood by examining Figs. 9 and 10 and noting that the shoulder and side portions H are in their retracted positions in which the bolts 2| have their cutouts 26 engaging the flanges of the keeper channel 42. The shoulder and side portions I may be extended by pressing them slightly further inwards. This will cause the pegs 43 to pass the one-way pawls 46, and

p when the shoulder and side portions l I are freed they may move to their outermost positions by the pegs 43 moving along the returning sections 44 of the track 44.

It is proposed that suitable means, not shown in Figs. 9 and 10, be provided for urging the shoulder and side portions ll outwards. This means may comprise springs as described in the prior forms of the invention.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible dress form, a form body having shoulder and side portions for moving outwards, keeper members movably mounted within said form body and between said shoulder portions, bolts mounted on said shoulder and side portions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, means for freeing said bolts from the keeper members, and bumpers for arresting the outward motion of said shoulder and side portions.

2. In a collapsible dress form, a form body having shoulder and side portions hingedly mounted at their bottom ends to the adjacent portions of the form body, keeper members movably mounted within said form body and between said shoulder portions, bolts mounted on said shoulder and side portions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, resilient means for urging said shoulder and side portions outwardly, means for freeing said bolts from the keeper members, and bumpersfor resiliently arresting the outward motion of said shoulder and side portions, comprising stationary bars mounted within said form body and leaf springs mounted on said bolts to strike said bars.

3. In a collapsible dress form, a form body having shoulder and side portions hingedly mounted at their bottom ends to the adjacent portions of the form body, keeper members movably mounted within said form body and between said shoulder portions,bolts mounted on said shoulder and side portions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, resilient means for urging said shoulder and side portions outwardly, means for freeing said bolts from the keeper members, and bumpers for resiliently arresting the outward motion of said shoulder and side portions, comprising stationary bars mounted within said form body and leaf springs mounted on said bolts to strike said bars, and means for adjustably connecting said leaf springs on said bolts so that they may be set in various positions from said bars.

4. In a collapsible dress form, a form body having shoulder and Side portions hingedly mounted at their bottom ends to the adjacent portions of the form body, keeper members movably mounted within said form body and between said shoulder portions, bolts mounted on said shoulder and side portions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, resilient means for urging said shoulder and side portions outwardly, means for freeing said bolts from the keeper members, comprising a rod extending from the form body and connected with said keeper members by which the keeper members may be moved to inoperative positions.

5. In a collapsibledress form, a form body having shoulder and side portions hingedly mounted at their bottom ends to the adjacent portions of the form body, keeper members movably mounted within said form body and between said shoulder portions, bolts mounted on said shoulder and side portions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, resilient means for urging said shoulder and side portions outwardly, means for freeing said bolts from the keeper members, comprising a rod extending from the form body and connected with said keeper members by which the keeper members may be moved to inoperative positions, said keeper members comprising lug portions on a bracket supported on said rod.

6. In a collapsible dress form, a form body having shoulder and side portions hingedly mounted at their bottom ends to the adjacent portions of the form body, keeper members movably mounted within said form body and between said shoulder portions, bolts mounted on said shoulder and sideportions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, resilient means for urging said shoulder and side portions outwardly, means for freeing said bolts from the keeper members, comprising a rod extending rom the form body and connected with said keeper members by which the keeper members may be moved to inoperative positions, said keeper members comprising lug portions on a bracket supported on said rod, and a bridge ably mounted within said form body and be- I tween said shoulder and side portions, bolts mounted on said shoulder and side portions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, resilient means for urging said shoulder and side portions outwardly, and means for freeing said bolts from the keeper members, comprising pegs engaging cam tracks formed on stationary plates mounted within said form body, portions of said tracks being provided with one way latches which permit the pegs to pass in one direction by forcing them to continue by preventing return of the pegs.

8. In a collapsible dress form, a form body having shoulder and side portions hingedly mounted at their bottom ends to the adjacent portions of the form body, keeper members movably mounted within said form body and between said shoulder and side portions, bolts mounted on said shoulder and side portions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, resilient means for urging said shoulder and side portions outwardly, and means for freeing said bolts from the keeper members, comprising pegs engaging cam tracks formed on stationary plates mounted within said form body, portions of said tracks being provided with one way latches which permit the pegs to pass in one direction by forcing them to continue by preventing return of the pegs, said cam tracks having straight wide portions which permit the bolts to engage the keeper members when the shoulder and side portions are pressed inwards to their inward positions.

9. In a collapsible dress form, a form body having shoulder and side portions hingedly mounted at their bottom ends to the adjacent portions of the form body, keeper members movably mounted within said form body and between said shoulder and side portions, bolts mounted on said shoulder and side portions and cooperative with said keeper members for latching said shoulder and side portions inwardly, resilient means for urging said shoulder and side portions outwardly, and meansfor freeing said bolts from the keeper members, comprising pegs engaging cam tracks formed on stationary plates mounted within said form body, portions of said tracks being provided with one way latches which permit the pegs to pass in one direction by forcing them to continue by preventing return of the pegs, said cam tracks having straight wide portions which permit the bolts to engage the keeper members when the shoulder and side portions are pressed inward to their inward positions, and said shoulder and side portions being capable of being freed when pressed in further so that said pins pass one way pawls causing the pegs to return on other portions of the track when the shoulder and side portions are freed.

EDWARD WEINSTEIN. 

